Catchafire

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/8359...ills-beachgoer

The 14th known shark fatality since records began.

Terrible for everyone involved.

Charismatic

Exactly...except the shark of course who had a whale of a time.

Catchafire

Until it was shot to death by the police.

Genesis

Not too sure why you would kill a shark that is doing something natural. Not sure its like dogs, once they attack humans they apparently get a taste for it, sharks are not like that IMO, they are always going to be hugely dangerous. If we chose to play in their domain we have to take that risk.

No, don't agree with killing sharks in cases like this. Have heard victim's families of shark attacks say the same. Unless of course it can be proved that you have a 'rogue shark'.

Sherlock Holmes

There was a news report on tele here recently about a shark attacking a small boat. The bloke in the boat flimed it on his mobile phone.

The film was shown on the tele. The shark had a nose about, as they do, and then went apeshit, as they do.

The commentary went, ".........and then the shark became aggressive."

Hmmm.........they tend to bit a bit aggressive don't they? They have great big pointy teeth with which to bite things in half.

The water is their territory.

Catchafire

I agree, sharks are only acting on instinct. But I guess the powers that be have to seen to be doing something.

How do they know they even have the right shark?

GoingIn2011

Well, also the fact that our waters need to be seen to be safe to swim in. If that were not the case, our coastal economies would be severely affected.

They know because the IRBs had it in their sites until the police helicopter came in and fired 12 rounds into it.

Genesis

I put my hands up. They shot it apparently when it would not let go of the victim...fair enough I say in that case eh?

simonsi

No, I agree with your first assessment, why would we expect the shark to let go? Sudden attack of conscience?

They are an apex predator and can/will eat pretty much whatever fits their description of food. We always go into the water into their environment and while these cases are tragic, it isn't the shark's "fault".

BEVS

First. Every sympathy tothis man's family & to the dreadful way he lost his life..


Some reports seem to indicate this was a great white. If so, this is a protected endangered species is it not.

I thought I had read that it is the shape of a surf board can lure a shark to think it has found food , not the proximity of a person..unless there is blood.

Genesis

I heard it was a Mako?

simonsi

Surfboards and people swimming from below both look vaguely like seals to sharks I understand....plenty of footage on Discovery channel indicates they regularly attack likely food first, work out whether it is afterwards.

TommyLuck

This was the first thing I heard on the radio this morning (in the UK).

Very sad.

marblep

Crikey! Muriwai was our local beach for ages. So sad for the family. And the community. I certainly won't take my 4 year old there again in a hurry.
Genesis - for the first time, I partially agree with you.

TommyLuck

To be fair, a shark attack is as likely (or unlikely?) to happen again at Muriwai as it is anywhere else in NZ.

Having said that, this story has put the brakes on me getting a wet suit any time soon.